Basketball Referee

Basketball Referee

Rndballref

20 Years Experience

Chicago, IL

Male, 60

For twenty years I officiated high school, AAU and park district basketball games, retiring recently. For a few officiating is the focus of their occupation, while for most working as an umpire or basketball referee is an avocation. I started ref'ing to earn beer money during college, but it became a great way to stay connected to the best sports game in the universe. As a spinoff, I wrote a sports-thriller novel loosely based on my referee experiences titled, Advantage Disadvantage

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Last Answer on September 20, 2019

Best Rated

5. My Question: Is the pivot foot the 1st step or 2nd step
I read somewhere that player who lands with one foot first may only pivot using that foot.
Is it the 1st foot or 2nd foot that becomes the pivot foot when you land.

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

If you catch the ball in the air, land on one foot and hop to both feet, then neither os the pivot foot. However, generally, yes. Your first foot down is your pivot foot.

last nite Tufts/Amherst game: foul shooter got boxed out & knocked down before her shot hit the rim. foul called on girl boxing out. shooter given a 1&1. correct call but are you ever allowed to displace {knock down} when boxing out?

Asked by midd44 over 9 years ago

No, you can never displace a player who is entitled to that space. The legal act of boxing out is continuously moving to spots before the opponent is entitled to those spots.

Can a defender put up one arm close his chest to protect him from an offense player drive-in? basically trying to protect the chest from a strong shoulder contact, does it consider a foul?

Asked by Alan almost 10 years ago

Yes, he can if the arm is within his vertical space. However, once the defender pushes the arm forward and moves the offensive player (arm bar) then it is a foul,

If the ball is fixing to go out of bounds and my opponent tries to throw it off my leg wouldn't it be out of bounds on my opponent if I step out of bounds and become part of the out of bounds as the ball bounces off my leg?

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

The ball is not out bounds until it hits the floor out of bounds or a player who is out of bounds. If a player steps out of bounds and is the first to touch the ball, the other team gets a throw in. So no, a player cannot get a throw in by getting out of bounds and then getting hit with the ball.

Can the player who saved the ball from going Out of bounds be the first player to touch it when he comes back in bounds

Asked by Tim over 9 years ago

The rule prohibits a player from voluntarily leaving the court. so if the player went out of bounds purposely to get around a defender it is a violation. If however the player jumped to save the ball and landed out of bounds, he may step back in and gain control of the ball. He cannot pick up the ball and dribble, because throwing the ball while saving it constitutes the start of a dribble.

Is there a time frame that a Coach has to sit down after getting an unsportsmanlike technical foul? This is in a Varsity Boys Basketball game.
Coach gets a 'T' the official walks away and his partner tries to get him to sit down. How long do we wait

Asked by Mole the Ref almost 9 years ago

It should never get to this but, after a minute or two the coach should be advised that he is risking a second direct technical foul and if he refuses to sit down, he will be ejected from the gym along with that foul.

There is no time specified, but give him a moment to calm down and comply, and if necessary then t him up.

When an offensive player is driving for a layup at full speed and the defender wraps his arms around player to stop him don't you think this should be a technical foul? This was intentional. Maybe not flagrant , but a player can get injured.

Asked by Doug about 9 years ago

In high school rules unless there is excessive contact beyond wrapping up the player, it would be an intentional foul which imposes 2 free throws plus a throw in.